: Quick question about using the rolling bevel method. When you place a strip
: on the kayak, do you bevel the top edge so that it is basically
: horizontal, and then put the next piece in place and match the bevel to
: that... or do you just put the piece on, leaving the top edge with a 90
: degree corner, and do all of the beveling on the bottom of the next strip?

Just bevel one edge of each new strip with a SHARP block plane. It is quite easy if you clamp one end of the strip in place on the boat and work the other end, beveling and test fitting the edges as you work from the stem to the center of the boat.

The trick I've found to beveling strips is to keep 1/2 of each strip clamped in place from one stem and work on the bevel. This allows you to keep the strip under control while bending the strip in a convex arc so the plane will move smoothly, taking down the edge.

This also makes it easy to quickly put the strip in place to judge how well the bevel is working, without walking back and forth from a bench to bevel and test.

I loosely clamp each new strip to the previous one with four spring clamps. One at each stem and two straddling the middle. Remove and replace clamps as needed to make your bevel.

You will be making what is called a rolling bevel in that the angle and amount of the bevel will change from the stems (little or no bevel) to the center of the hull (the most bevel). In all cases your goal is to bevel just enough to make the outside edges of the strips contact in a tight joint.

I hold the block plane with the base up and plane away from my body, so I bevel the bottom edge of the strip. You must keep an eye on the top, exterior edge, which will be the visible part of the joint. You don't want your bevel to break this edge. Start with just a very slight angle, you will be surprised at how little a bevel you need.

Also, when you hold the strip off the hull it will not be perfectly straight and if you hold the sole of your plane parallel to the strip length the blade will not cut much or at all. However, if you hold the plane sole at an angle of 45° or more you will be able to engage the full blade cut in the bevel you are cutting.

Look at the gap you see on joint between the two strips. This is the amount of bevel you must make on the bottom, back edge of the new strip.

Hold your block plane against the bottom of the strip and make the same size gap. This amount of material to be removed when you are beveling the edge.

Bevel a section about two feet long and test the fit by holding the strip in place on the hull on top of the last strip on the boat.

Once you like the fit of one end of the strips, clamp that end of the strip in place on the hull and do the other end. You will find it easy and fast.

Rob